How to host a dinner party

Great news: despite what you might think, creating the perfect dinner party is much easier than it sounds. While the dream at-home event might look different to each of us, one thing is consistent – good hosting is key. Meaning, we all desire to create a warm, relaxed space for people to enjoy themselves. 

One of the best (yet unexpected) ways to do that? Choose a menu that can be prepared in advance and let cooking tech do the hard work. This frees you up to do the most important thing of all – spend time with your guests. Let the feasting commence.  

Anything that helps you prepare before guests arrive is a big win. Kick things off, both in the kitchen and at dinner, with a freshly baked focaccia, created effortlessly with the help of this super-simple bread maker.

Continue the meal with a dish that combines minimal effort and maximum flavour; wow guests with a delicious joint of meat, stew or curry slow cooked in the Ninja multi cooker. The best bit? It’s also a pressure cooker and air fryer, meaning it caters to all sorts of occasions while also saving on cupboard space.

‘It’s worth putting the work in early so that hosting is your only priority on the night,’ says chef and cookbook writer, Anna Barnett. ‘When it comes to dinner parties, dessert is taken care of in advance and will be plonked on the table with minimal effort on my part.’ With that in mind, round out your meal with a dish that gives your guests that cosy, cared-for feeling – anyone for a stack of gooey chocolate brownies served on a warm plate (thank you genius warming drawer)?

It’s the little details that add up to a great night. ‘A kitchen does only half the job when hosting,’ says Anna. ‘It’s at the dining table that everything comes to life and we see the true expression of the host.’ 

Choose a tablescaping theme – whether it’s a colour palette, occasion or season – and go all out. Start with a table runner and placemats. Add natural elements, such as flowers or greenery in vases and jugs, or individual stems in bud vases, to create a layered look. Then mix and match colourful candles in candleholders. 

A hint for hosts: the best dinner parties are less about the food and more about the fun that your guests have at the table. Serve welcome cocktails in wiggle-stemmed glasses, and share bold touches that provide a talking point – such as palm-tree-printed dinner plates. Beautiful tableware that feels lovely in your hands brings a great vibe to any meal, so think about textures as much as about prints and patterns.